Seahawks Place Bryant, Hamilton on IR

Red Bryant became one of the Seahawks’ feel-good stories this season, going from little-used defensive tackle to starting defensive end.

Unfortunately for Bryant, the feel-good season came to an end when he was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, the result of a knee injury suffered in Sunday’s loss to Oakland when teammate Chris Clemons fell into Bryant’s leg.

The move was one of several roster moves announced by the Seahawks.

Left guard Ben Hamilton is also going on injured reserve after suffering what Seahawks coach Pete Carroll called a significant concussion. Seattle also released running back/fullback Quinton Ganther, who was signed last week, and cornerback Nate Ness.

Seattle signed defensive tackle Frank Okam, who was released by the Houston Texans last month. Okam, a fifth-round pick in 2008, will provide depth on a defensive line that not only lost Bryant, but has also been without tackle Brandon Mebane (calf) for three weeks, and lost tackle Colin Cole to an ankle injury Sunday. Mebane could be back this week, Carroll said, while the prognosis on Cole is not yet known.

Kentwan Balmer, who has been starting in place of Mebane, will likely start in Bryant’s place. Bryant was a seldom-used backup tackle his first two seasons, and was moved to end in the offseason at the suggestion of Carroll and defensive line coach Dan Quinn. The move seemed strange at first for a player listed at 323-pounds, but Bryant has thrived in his new position, helping the Seahawks establish one of the league’s best run defenses.

Prior to Sunday’s game, Seattle was ranked second in the league against the run both in total yards allowed and yards allowed per carry. In the first half — Bryant went down on Oakland’s last possession of the half — the Raiders carried 21 times for 71 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per carry. In the second half, Oakland carried 18 times for 168 yards, good for an average of 9.3 yards per carry. Obviously there are way too many factors to say that drastic difference was tied only to Bryant’s absence, but the change isn’t likely a total coincidence either.

“We’ve really leaned on him as we’ve made the transition schematically and I’ve said it numerous times that he’s done a great job for us,” Carroll said. “Now we need to see how we hold up without him. He’s shown us the style of the play that we like there and given us a good illustration of what we can do with him, but he’s been a significant factor. He’s been such a good guy and all that. So we’re really going to miss him, miss him badly.”

With Hamilton done for the season, Chester Pitts will take over as the starting left guard. Pitts, a free-agent signee who missed most of last season after having microfracture surgery on his knee, returned to game action last weekend. He very well may have beaten Hamilton out for the job regardless of Hamilton’s health situation. The decision to release Ganther and Ness is likely an indicator of improving health at those positions. Gather was signed to fill in for Michael Robison, who missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, while Ness had to start at cornerback because of injuries to Kelly Jennings and his backup, Walter Thurmond. Carroll said he anticipates both Jennings and Thurmond returning to practice this week.

The Seahawks still have three roster spots to fill this week. The big question is whether or not one of those spots could go to receiver Randy Moss, who was released by Minnesota less than a month after the Vikings traded for him. The troubled but talented receiver went on waivers Tuesday, and teams have 24 hours to place a waiver claim on Moss if they want to acquire him.

The Seahawks are 16th in the waiver order — the worse a team’s record, the higher their waiver position — so 15 teams in the league would have to pass on Moss for the Seahawks to even have a chance at acquiring him. If a team claims Moss, they are responsible for the remainder of his 2010 contract.

Carroll wouldn’t comment on the possibility of adding Moss during his Monday press conference, and indications are that Seahawks won’t likely put in a claim. Given the willingness of Carroll and general manager John Schneider to look everywhere for talent, however, nothing can be ruled out until the 24-hour waiver period ends this afternoon.